2008 SEASON (up to and including 5th May 2008) PLAYED 7. WON 5. LOST 2. DRAWN 0. CANCELLED 0. CHECK OUT THE LATEST RESULTS ON 2008 FIXTURES PAGE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DINNER A RESOUNDING SUCCESS 50 Cryptics and guests enjoyed a superb evening at the Club Dinner on 19th April at the OU OTC. Hon Gen Sec Dougie Dalrymple organised another excellent occasion including a splendid meal. John Dykes was the speaker, amusing everyone with his wry Hampshire style, evoking the great John Arlott. Tom Swerling spoke wittily and successfully frustrated those with a bet on the length of the speeches. He highlighted the proposed Centenary Tour to South Africa and invited anyone interested to contact him. Will Buckland generously donated copies of "Pommies" which were won by John Hamilton and Ed Montague in the raffle. __________________________________________________________________ William Buckland, a Cryptic cricketer known to many of us, has written a book about cricket entitled Pommies. The book synopsis reads: Something is wrong with professional cricket in England. Three years after the 2005 Ashes victory, the England team has reverted to type. In 2007, it lost three out of four Test series and got nowhere in the ICC World Cup and Twenty20 tournaments. Since 1987, Australia has thrashed England 34 games to nine in Tests and won four World Cups to England’s none. Today, Australia has five cricket stadiums with more than 30,000 seats to England’s none. Their team is accessible to all on Channel Nine, but England fans have to pay £400 a year for Sky. Why? And why are so many of our players injured? Why is Lord’s so exclusive and expensive? Who actually runs this game and what are they trying to do? Using Australia as the model and inspiration, Pommies explains what is wrong with England cricket and presents a radical plan to improve the national team and open up the game for fans. Once you have read this book, you will never see England cricket the same way again. For more..... http://www.pommies.org/index.html ___________________________________________________________________ CRYPTICS TO SPAIN 2008 Another Iberian Campaign is concluded with great enjoyment all round...except that the Club lost to Sporting Alfas CC on the saturday (AGAIN!).....but won the other two games. Tour Batting Award went to John Hamilton - 215 runs for once out Tour Bowling Award went to Jeremy Winter - 5-2-12-1 match changing spell Full Match Scores on SPAIN 2008 page; reports to follow. If you cannot wait, then click on the following link ( or copy and paste it into your browser) to take you to the reports as they appear on This is Spain, with many thanks to Ian Perrins. http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/14725/cricket-galore-as-alfas-prepare-to-defend-league-title ____________________________________________________________________ CENTENARY 2010 PRIZE DRAW APRIL (drawn at the Club Dinner) Special Prize (Will Buckland's books "Pommies") James Maunder Taylor £15 winner James Fairweather £10 winner Simon Fawcus Monthly draws will take place and the results will be posted here. YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT! If you wish to participate (£24pa) contact nickpriestnall@msn.com or 07850 484488. __________________________________________________________ THE CRYPTICS IS A WANDERING CLUB WITH A SPLENDID TRADITION OF PLAYING A HIGH STANDARD OF CRICKET AGAINST GREAT CLUB, SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY TEAMS AND OF TOURING. IT DOES NOT PLAY IN A LEAGUE. THE CLUB ALWAYS WELCOMES NEW PLAYERS AND HAS SPECIAL CONCESSIONS FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME EDUCATION. HOWEVER IT DOES NOT EMPLOY PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS. THE CRYPTICS WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ITS CENTENARY IN 2010.